Recently I
reviewed a client's query letter. It was a hard working query letter, detailing
the marketing prospects for the book, her own glowing credentials and the
contacts she possessed that would help her publicize the book. But she left out
one teeny weeny thing: she didn't say what her book was about! I used to think
query letters were relatively easy, but now I realize that a query has to do so
many things that it's easy to forget essential elements. Since the letter is
your first step in putting your book's best foot forward, you don't want that
to happen. So here's a simple rundown on what goes into a solid query letter.
Who Are You? It's tempting to start the letter by
leaping into a breathless description of what you're sure is going to be the
best book in the world, but resist a little longer. You want to use your first
paragraph to introduce yourself and let the agent know why he or she should pay
attention to you. Tell the agent who you are. Describe your qualifications,
including a bit about your current activities which will in turn describe your
platform. Have you been doing speaking engagements? Do you appear on
television? Are you noted in your profession? Have you won any awards? Do
people look to you as an expert in your subject? Do you teach? For instance, if
you are a workshop or seminar leader in real estate finance, frequently travel
across the country, and have 5,000 people attending your workshops every month,
you can tell the agent:"Now I’ve decided to give away all of my secrets in
a book about real estate financing with no money down." Anything that puts you
in front of people is a potential place to sell your book so don't forget to
mention such activities.
What's Your Book About? In the
next two or three paragraphs of the letter you get to talk about your wonderful
book idea and/or story. As a guideline, it may help you to read the backs of
book covers. You'll want to do something similar--a brief synopsis of your book
with enough spark it will intrigue the agent or any other potential reader, to
pick up your book. Use bullet points to highlight what amazing tidbits the
reader will get out of the book. Will they get five strategies on how to eat
without gaining weight? Or 4 low cost resources for financing a large home
improvement project? Or the 6 surefire signs you've found your life purpose?
Make this description tight, concise and, of course, hugely interesting. Then
you can move on to...
Your Great Marketing Plan--With You As the
Star The query letter should include a brief paragraph or two about
how you're going to market the book. Of course, if you go with a traditional
publisher you'll get major help in this area from the publishing house. But
remember this: no one will be a better advocate for your book than you. And
when editors are considering manuscripts they're also considering what kind of
a marketing presence they'll be getting with the author. You'll make their job
easier--and your book much more successful--if you can bring your own marketing
plan to the table to work hand in hand with the publisher's. Do you have
contacts in the media willing to help? Are you good at getting quoted in
newspapers and magazines? Do you publish freelance articles that can mention
your upcoming book? Put a lot of thought into this. Too many writers go into
the publishing process expecting everything to be done for them and then are
disappointed. Having a good marketing plan would show a potential agent that
you're serious and you understand the business.
The Next Step
You’ve mentioned your credentials, described your book and
your stellar marketing plan. Ideally, at this point, you have the agent
intrigued. You want him or her to say, "Great! What does this person have to
offer?" This is where your letter would say something like, "I would love for
you to see more and I have a proposal" or "I have 50 pages of a manuscript."
Whatever you want the agent to see next, offer it up and ask, "May I send this
to you?" Asking permission is always a classy thing to do, it shows you're not
being presumptuous. Then you move into a closing that let's the agent know
you'll follow up in a certain amount of time either via phone or email (they
might prefer email).
When you're done, read your query letter over
many times. Have another trusted set of eyes read it for you. It's easy to
overlook important points, or to think you've covered something when you really
haven't. When you can polish no longer, send it out--many times! And
congratulations. You've just made the first step in getting yourself and your
book out there. I wish you a successful journey.
© 2006
Sophfronia Scott ABOUT THE AUTHORWOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE
MORE ARTICLES LIKE THIS ONE? See Sophfronia's The Book Sistah Blog, category
"Articles". Author and Writing Coach Sophfronia Scott is "The Book Sistah" TM.
Get her FREE REPORT, "The 5 Big Mistakes Most Writers Make When Trying to Get
Published" and her FREE online writing and publishing tips at
www.TheBookSistah.com 
